Southern police were pleased with the effect of their "zero tolerance" blitz on speed this weekend, but hoped the road toll would stay low as people returned home after long weekend marked by heavy rain, surface flooding and snow.
"We are really happy. We think it has been a success, the message got out there.
"Now we need people to think about their speed not just on holiday weekends, but all the time," Southern police district road policing manager Inspector Andrew Burns said.
The blitz on speed was announced as a temporary measure to keep the roads safe during the holiday period after speed was found to be a factor in many of the 12 fatal crashes during the Easter holiday weekend this year.
Any motorist caught driving more than 4kmh over the speed limit was fined by police.
Insp Burns said southern drivers had been relatively good over the weekend.
Road policing staff had told him speeds were slower than usual and people stopped had been well aware there was a lowered speed tolerance.
Police roading national manager Superintendent Paula Rose said the number of crashes was down on last year and police were very happy with that.
Supt Rose said the speeding blitz was just one of several strategies by police to keep the roads safe this weekend.
"We have increased our presence on the roads, moved from unmarked to marked cars and have a higher number of police working than we usually would."
Slower drivers were also targeted.
Police road policing communications manager Lesley Wallis said although police were pleased with the results, there were no moves yet to make the policy permanent.
